Bulgaria is one of those Eastern European ex-communist countries that lately joined the European Union. The reasons why they did it are quite simple :
- they are aiming at political stability.
- they want to be part of a huge and powerful economic zone that could bring them welfare and growth.
- they want to be protected from the Russian ex-”big brother” who did not them only good.
Even though Bulgaria and Romania were not completely ready to join the Union, they now are in and it is good to have them : the European family is now about to be complete.
Some of the newcomers reproached (rightly somehow) the European Union its politic weakness and its incapacity to form a solid bulwark against Russia, the former oppressor.
This story of Bulgarian medics who were imprisoned for some doubtful reasons in Libya was THE opportunity for the EU to show the world and itself its political power. The negotiations with the Libyan authorities went to their end when France decided to send the wife of the president, Nicolas Sarkozy, to accelerate the process.
What the hell was she doing here ? Have you ever seen Mrs. Bush intervene in any political crisis in the world ? What kind of legitimacy does she have to negotiate with one dictator ?
The EU could have improved its credibility and its unity at the same time. We could have shown the world that we can stand together when our citizens are in danger and thus ensure Eastern European countries our will to protect them. It did it partially (one of the nurse told “if Bulgaria would not have been in the EU, we would not be free now”) but this European victory is, in my opinion, blurred by the French attitude.
When will we have a real common foreign policy ? When will France stop sending French troops in Africa (or the president’s wife) and will pass the relay to the European Union ? When will German, French and British soldiers fight, for instance, together in Afghanistan for the blue and yellow flag and in the name of the EU ?
I am not naive, this not going to happen tomorrow, but it is what we must strive for.